The landscape in which we live is ever-evolving, demand is increasing, and if not anything, then the competition has become cut-throat. The impact of this dog-eat-dog situation has impacted small businesses the most. With that being said, opting for local SEO strategies is something that is deemed to be imperative. Over the last few decades, this is evidence that 46% of Google searches have local intent, more than 97% of the people learn more about the local companies online. So for this blog we shall explore how SEO for local businesses can help in increasing business visibility and customer engagement.
What is local SEO?
As the name suggests, local SEO is a strategy that helps your business to be more visible in local search results. This is nothing like the traditional SEO, this new branch helps your business to appear prominently in local search results, and includes local search results too. Apart from this, it helps you with:
- Be more visible in the local search results on Google
- Map packing
- Helps you to grow your business organically by using effective strategies,
- Local SEO plays a crucial role in marketing, connecting your business with more customers in the geographic areas.
- Aids in building trust and credibility
- Helps you come in parity with the larger businesses.
- Adapting to the search engine and getting accustomed to the algorithm changes.
- Propels a consistent online presence throughout,
What ways can you boost local SEO in your community?
In this section of the article, we shall explore some core SEO for local businesses strategies that can help your business emerge as a long-tailed horse of the field.
1. Optimizing Google Business profile
While local SEO is in question, “Google My Business” is the bedrock of your local search and presence. This is primarily your hub for:
- Fishing out potential customers, look for relevant business information, (like address and phone numbers).
- You can update business information.
- This is the correct place where the customers can review and read positive reviews.
- You can also work on influencing prospective customers and improve your local search rankings.
2. Play with local keywords
Did you know that 50% of businesses believe that using relevant and local keywords helps with battling local business and marketing? Yes, working with local level keywords is one of the best SEO practices that businesses can venture. When you play with keywords at a local level scale, you get to know:
- Who are you’re potential customers
- By integrating these local keywords in your website title tags, Meta description and content, you can boost the visibility of your business.
Yes, the idea of twining local search intent is determined and recognized by Google as well. As per the statistics, more than 46% of all searches have a “near me” intent, and the best part is the numbers will increase by 500% in the upcoming years.
There is a certain way in which you should tweak or research your keyword that is being specific to the local market, the service areas. Additionally, an in-depth keyword research will help you to find high-volume keywords. Now all these can seem like a tedious task to you, here is where Digital Webber can come into play. We are a 360-degree digital marketing agency. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, using tools like Ahrefs or Moz Keyword Explorer, we let you enter your business location and search niche.
3. Leverage the local business schema
Local business schema is like a torchlight that helps you to find your niche, it further acts as the word of mouth that aids you to ace your Local SEO game. It is a successful practice and is considered as one of the best SEO practices as:
- It is a powerful tool.
- Helps with search engine understand your business.
- Include information about your local business.
- With the local business schema, you can update the important elements of the business (this includes business hours, address, phone numbers, and other crucial details about your business)
4. Focus on local search optimization.
Local search optimization, this is an astral weapon when it comes to local SEO business and optimization. With this by your side you can optimize business listings in high quality local directories, make all the information consistent across multiple location pages. Wondering how?
- You can use local, reputable business directories. This will help you to boost local traffic and improve local search rankings.
- Service areas and location pages- this is one of those SEO best practices that help you to target multiple location rankings, use local keywords, and attract customers in your local search rankings.
- Maintain consistent business details, across your website, GMB profile, and other online directories. Make sure you use the same name, address, and phone numbers.
5. Adapt to the ever-changing search engine algorithm
Always stay updated with the best SEO practices is important as it helps you to keep in pace with the changes in the algorithms. Truth be said, when you are adept in knowing the ins and outs of Google, local SEO becomes easy for you, as it enhances the quality and relevancy of the search results.
Investing in long term SEO tools like Google Analytics, Moz and SEMrush provides valuable insights into your website’s performance and helps you highlight the areas of weaknesses and monitor your development over time.
6. Engaging with the local community
SEO for local businesses and local backlinks are crucial for raising your profile. But how to do it? Well, this happens when the local businesses participate in the community activities. In this way, you can get results in mentions or links from local websites, in addition, you can also improve your local search rankings.
Let’s cite an example for you, say there is a bakery and a coffee shop that collaborate for a business marketing campaign. With this collaboration you can create cross-promotion opportunities that benefit both companies with “social media visibility and creating worthwhile backlinks”.
7. Professional experience and the use of moderate tools
Now this is just the continuation of all the aforementioned points. To comply with all these strategies, your business might need a professional for:
- Implementing targeted strategies
- Analyzing data
- Optimizing content
- Addressing technical issues
You can always connect with us, the Digital Webber, if you need help related to local SEO.
Conclusion
In sum, SEO for the local business is a hallmark move if you are willing to target the niche market and are someone who is beginning their business from scratch. With the above strategies, your business will not be stuck in appearing for searches, but your business can understand local businesses and connect with the local community. So are you ready to boost your local SEO and dominate the local scene? Digital Webber is your contact agency.
